Net Worth Ranker
What Is Matt Harvey’s Net Worth?
Matt Harvey, a former professional baseball pitcher who played nine MLB seasons primarily for the New York Mets, has a net worth estimated at $10 million. This figure primarily reflects his earnings during his career as a professional athlete. He did earn $28 million in salary during his career, but a career hampered by injuries impacted Harvey’s long-term earning potential.
Matt Harvey’s Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Born on March 27, 1989, in New London, Connecticut, Matt Harvey grew up in Mystic, Connecticut, with his sisters, Jessica and Jocelyn. His parents, Jackie and Ed, were teachers. Harvey attended Fitch Senior High School in Groton. His father coached him on the school’s baseball team, fostering his early development in the sport. During the summers, Harvey honed his skills playing for travel teams such as the East Coast Grays and the South Florida Bandits. Despite being ranked among the top high school prospects in 2007, Harvey wasn’t selected as high as expected in the MLB draft that year. Instead, he opted to pursue higher education.
Matt Harvey’s Collegiate and Minor League Career
Harvey attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in sports administration. He played college baseball for the Tar Heels and accumulated a 22-7 record with a 3.73 ERA. During his summer breaks in 2008 and 2009, he played for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, further refining his skills. In the 2010 MLB draft, Harvey was selected seventh overall by the New York Mets. His professional career began in the Mets’ minor league system, where he played for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets and the Double-A Binghamton Mets in 2011. By 2012, he was promoted to the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.
Matt Harvey’s MLB Career with the New York Mets
Harvey made his major league debut with the New York Mets in the summer of 2012. In his debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he set a Mets franchise record by recording 11 strikeouts. He also had two hits in that game. In his second start against the San Francisco Giants, he recorded seven strikeouts, bringing his total to 18 strikeouts, another Mets record for a rookie in his first two career games. Harvey finished the 2012 season with a 3-5 record, a 2.73 ERA, and 70 strikeouts.
In 2013, Harvey continued to impress. He recorded 19 strikeouts across his first two starts of the season. In a June game against the Atlanta Braves, Harvey took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts. Later, in August, he pitched his first career complete game shutout, leading the Mets to a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. However, he was placed on the disabled list in late August due to an elbow injury. Harvey finished the 2013 season with a 9-5 record, a 2.27 ERA, and 191 strikeouts.
Harvey missed the entire 2014 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned in April 2015, pitching six scoreless innings and recording nine strikeouts against the Washington Nationals. The following month, Harvey pitched eight scoreless innings and recorded nine strikeouts against the St. Louis Cardinals. In July, he hit his first career home run in a victory over the Diamondbacks. The Mets reached the postseason, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS and the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. In the World Series, the Mets lost to the Kansas City Royals.
Unfortunately, Harvey’s performance declined due to injuries. In 2016, his season ended early so he could have surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve condition. In 2017, Harvey spent time on the disabled list with a stress fracture. In 2018, his final season with the Mets, he made eight appearances, posting a 0-2 record and a 7.00 ERA. He was designated for assignment in May after refusing a demotion to the minors.
Based on available data, some estimates put Harvey’s earnings for 2013 in the $500,000 range. These earnings would have been primarily derived from his baseball salary with the Mets.
Matt Harvey’s Career with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles
After being designated for assignment by the Mets in May 2018, Harvey was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. During his season with the Reds, he went 7-7 with a 4.50 ERA and 111 strikeouts. After his time with the Reds, Harvey signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels in late 2018. During his tenure with the team, he recorded a 7.50 ERA across 48 innings. Due to a back injury, he was placed on the disabled list. In July, Harvey was designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Angels. In the summer of 2019, Harvey signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics, but he later became a free agent. In the summer of 2020, Harvey signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals and was later promoted to the majors. He appeared in seven games for the Royals, going 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA. Harvey signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles in early 2021. In March, he was promoted to the majors. His season ended in September when he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a knee injury. He finished with a 6-14 record, a 6.27 ERA, and 95 strikeouts. Harvey became a free agent and later re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract in the spring of 2022. However, he received a 60-game suspension a month later for distributing oxycodone. Upon returning later in the season, Harvey played for the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, the Double-A Bowie Baysox, and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He announced his retirement from professional playing in the spring of 2023 after declaring free agency in late 2022.
During his time with the Mets, Harvey signed a 1-year contract worth $4.325 million with the New York Mets in 2016, avoiding arbitration. This contract guaranteed him an annual average salary of $4,325,000.
Matt Harvey’s Public Image and Lifestyle
During his time with the Mets, Harvey had a notorious reputation for his hedonistic lifestyle. He was known for driving a Maserati and dating fashion models, including Anne Vyalitsyna and Adriana Lima. In 2013, he appeared nude in ESPN The Magazine’s The Body Issue and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated with the nickname “The Dark Knight of Gotham.” These endorsements and appearances contributed to his visibility and likely augmented his income during his peak years.
In 2016, Matt Harvey signed a one-year contract with the New York Mets for $4.325 million, demonstrating a significant increase from his earlier rookie contracts.
